Room At The Inn (The Jeff Resnick Mysteries) Read Free Page B

heavy, wooden mashers, standing like toy soldiers on a shelf over the sink. Several pictures of a large sailboat were taped to the stainless steel shelving. Its name: Sea Nymph . Exiting to the barroom, so called because of the large, knotty pine bar dominating one wall, we followed the voices into the next room.
    An attractive woman, maybe half a decade older than Maggie, barely noticed our entrance. She wore the clothes of a twenty-something—a form fitting mini skirt and a low-cut blouse—and had the body to go with them. She held a pool cue in one hand, her eyes fixed on a much younger man, who racked the balls for a game. She looked at him with a restless hunger that her air of sophistication couldn't disguise.
    "Hi," he said. Tanned and good-looking, he had an athlete's physique. His sun-streaked brown hair and even white teeth were perfect, and his vivid blue eyes were almost as striking as Maggie's. He looked like he belonged on a billboard somewhere. He was probably twenty-four—twenty-six at the most—and at least twenty years younger than his companion.
    "Hello," Eileen said. "We were having coffee in the dining room when we heard you come downstairs. I'm Eileen Marshall."
    The woman turned away, her face filled with sudden anger, but the younger man shook Eileen's offered hand. "Ted Palmer." He indicated the woman. "This is my friend, Laura Ross."
    "How do you do," Eileen said good-naturedly.
    Laura eyed her coldly, and then let her gaze fall back to the table.
    I finished the introductions and Ted thrust his hand at me. I grasped it and the floodgates opened once again. Emotions and sensations burst upon me—chief among them was boredom.
    I hate when that happens. Time seems to stop and I never know how long I've stood there with my mouth open, looking foolish. I yanked my hand back and glanced at Laura. Despite the age difference, I knew these two were lovers.
    Ted scrutinized Eileen's face. "Were you here Fourth of July weekend?" At Eileen's nod, he said, "I thought I remembered you."
    "Laura Ross..." Maggie repeated. "Aren't you the editor of American Woman magazine?"
    "Former editor."
    "She's taking a well-deserved break," Ted finished for her.
    "Did you arrive today?" Laura asked stiffly, her gaze riveted on Maggie.
    "This afternoon.”
    "They're doing a magazine article on the inn," Eileen volunteered. "I'm sure we'll all be interested in reading it when it comes out.”
    Why did she suddenly sound so snide?
    Laura ignored her. "Is this your first time here?"
    "Yes. It's very nice," Maggie said.
    Laura glanced around the room. "Not as exclusive as some of the other inns in the area, but there's a peacefulness here that fills your soul."
    As one sensitive to such things, I could've disputed that claim, but I kept my mouth shut. Eileen merely rolled her eyes.
    "It sounds like you've been here many times," Maggie said.
    "I've been coming to Stowe since I was a child. I've known several of the inn's past owners. Susan and Zack have done a marvelous job renovating the place. It really is lovely." The words were perfect—it was the delivery that sounded sour.
    Ted set the rack aside and grabbed a cue from the wall. "Don't let us hold you up," I said, feeling the need to escape.
    "We’ll see you later," Maggie said brightly.
    Neither of them seemed particularly sorry to see us go.
    "Let me show you the hot tub," Eileen offered, sliding back into her friendly persona, and led us through another quaint room. "This is the sun room.”
    And aptly named because of the bank of windows on three sides. The rustic woodwork looked and smelled spanking new. Comfortable overstuffed chairs were grouped for conversation. An old maple table, refinished and suitably distressed, held a checkerboard. Shelves filled with old books and collectibles lined another wall.
    Eileen walked us out the French doors into the backyard. Spotlights were trained on the pool and the swirling waters of the oval hot tub, which looked large